Electrically heated chair



March 4, 1952 F. J. lRvlNG ELECTRICALLY HEATED CHAIR 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed June 19, 1950 INI/ENTOR.

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:Anwalt March 4, 1952 F. J. lRvmG ELECTRICALLY HEME?, CHAIR 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed June 19, 1950 Fen/wa u. Aem/G,

I N V EN TOR Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY HEATED CHAIR Frank J. Irving, San Gabriel, Calif.

Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 169,029

Claims. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates to improvements in articles of furniture and may be incorporated in the construction of chairs, beds, cribs, Ottomans, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved article of furniture, such as a chair, bed, crib, or the like which may be electrically heated by heating elements.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture having a collapsible hollow body urged into distended position by springs and wherein-there are heating elements movable with the springs for heating the body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture comprising a collapsible hollow airtight body urged into distended position by springs, heating elements movable with the springs, mechanism for creating an air pressure within the body, the body being provided with vents to allow egress of air from the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible hollow airtight body as above described wherein there are means for heating the air within the body and for creating an ai-r pressure within the body and wherein mechanism is provided for allowing and controlling egress of air from the body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture comprising a col lapsible hollow, substantially airtight body urged into distended position by coil springs, and in which heating elements are suspended within the coil springs to be movable therewith and wherein the hollow body is apertured in alignment' with the heating elements and wherein there are mechanisms responsive to the temperature of the air for opening and closing the aperturesin the body.

Another object is to provide an article of furniture which is heated by drawing air into the article of furniture, heating, and discharging the air through the covering of the article of furniture, which article of furniture is provided with control mechanism whereby the temperature of the discharged air can be automatically controlled at selected predetermined temperatures regardless of the temperature of the air drawn into the body.

Another object o f the inventionis to lower the range of operating temperatures of the thermostat control mechanism used in connection with a thermostatically controlled heated article of furniture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specificallypointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the '2 accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a chair and footstool incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the coil springs of the chair depicted in Fig. l showing a heating element suspended within the coil spring and showing in dot-dash lines an electric supply line to the heating element;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the spring being collapsed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the air control plates out of alignment; Fig. 5 is a sectional view in elevation along lines 5 5 of Fig. 4 showing the receptacle for the heating element;

Fig. 6 is a view in plan of a portion of the arrangement depicted in Fig. 4, wherein the air control plates are shown in aligned position to permit egress of air from the device; and

Fig. 7 is a view in plan along line I-1 of Fig. 1, showing the control mechanism for the heating elements. J

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, in Fig. 1 the embodiment of the invention comprises a chair having a frame generally indicated at I0 including a base member II, a back supporting member I2, and arm supporting members I3 on which coil springs I 4 are supported. There is a sheath or covering I 'I for the coil springs in the seat and for the centrally apertured sponge rubber cushion I5 of the seat of the chair and this covering I'I is of some airtight material and is secured or attached to the frame and to the base member II and to a cross supporting member I8, the manner of securing being such as to prevent the escape of air thereby. There is a similar airtight covering or sheath 20 for the springs of the back of the chair and covering 20 is secured to cross member I8 and to the back supporting member I2 for the chair. There are similar airtight coverings 2| for the springs in the arms of the chair, so that coverings I1, 20, and 2I in conjunction with frame I0 and the various parts of the frame form an airtight body. There are openings to be described, through coverings II, 20 and 2|, to permit the passage of air therethrough but the passage of air through these openings is controlled in a manner to be described so that free -fiow of air through the chair is prevented.

The sheath, back, and arms of the chair may be provided with cushions 30, 3|, and 32, respectively. There is .an outer covering35 for the chair but this covering allows air to readily pass therethrough as does the cushioning means 30, 3 I, and 32 so that once the air has passed through the openings in the airtight covering pieces 20, and 2|, little resistance is offered to the passage of the air through the cushions and outer covering 35. Heating elements 39 are provided for the seat, back and arms of the chair and each of these heating elements is supported within a coil spring in the manner as shown in Fig. 2 in the case of the heating element for the seat. In Fig. 2 it can be seen that heating element comprises a receptacle 46 having ears 41 and tension springs 48 hook into ears 41 and over the upper convolute of the coil spring I4 thereby suspending the receptacle 46 within the coil spring |4 and from coil spring I4 so that the heating element 39 is movable with the coil spring and so will not come into contact with the covering of the chair and thereby damage to the chair will be avoided. As shown in Fig. 3, wherein the coil spring I4 is depressed or collapsed the heating element is still not any closer to the covering of the chair than it was in Fig. 2, and therefore it will be appreciated that one of the main objects of the invention, which is to avoid damage to the covering of the chair by the heating elements, is achieved by the novel construction of .suspending the heating elements from and within the coil springs of the chair.

Each of the heating elements has a heatresistant base 5| having electrically energized heating coils 52 supported therein. There are apertures 53 through heat-resistant base member 5|- to allow for the passage of air through the heat-resistant base 5| and there are apertures 55 through the base of receptacle 46 to allow` for the passage of air therethrough. There is a central heat conducting supporting member 51 received by a boss 58 on receptacle 46 and secured to the receptacle by nut 59. A shoulder 6| is provided on member 51 and this shoulder bears against a central boss on heat-resistant base 5| to retain the base member in therreceptacle.

There is a lower air-control plate 54 which is fixed with relation to the receptacle and the heat-resistant base member 5| and is provided with a plurality of apertures 61 located over member 51, compare Figs. 4 and 5. It can be seen that lower air-control plates 64 extend to 'the side walls of the receptacle 46 and therefore,

all the air entering through apertures in receptacle 46 must pass through the base rnember 5| and through the apertures 61 in air-control plate 64. There is an upper air-control plate 65 movable with regard to plate 64 and provided with apertures 12 which are adapted to be brought into alignment with apertures 5'! on control plate 54, compare Figs. 4 and 6. There is a bimetallic strip 14 for each of the heating elements and bimetallic strip shownV in Fig. 5 is secured by a sleeve 15 to the central supporting member 51 and heat is adapted to be transferred through member 51 to the bimetallic strip 14 whereby the bimetallic strip is adapted to be deformed upon changing temperatures of air below the receptacle and within the receptacle. It is obvious that heat can be transferred from the heating elements proper 52 through the plates 64 and 1| to the bimetallic strips 14. The outer end of the bimetallic strip fits Within a clevis or fork member fixed to the upper air-control plate 65 to enable control thereover.

Bimetallic strips 14 serve the important purpose of closing the receptacles to the passage of air and maintaining the receptacles closed until a predetermined temperature is obtained so that cold air will not be allowed to pass through the receptacles and through the covering of the chair and onto the occupant of the chair. Therefore, the occupant ofthe chair will know at all times .that only Warm air will be allowed to pass through heating elements ,have been energized and the temperature has risen to a predetermined cornyfortable point, the bimetallic strips will be deformed to the position shown in Fig. 6. so that `apertures 61 and '|2 are aligned and therefore the air within the chair which has had a chance to be warmed, may now be forced through the lreceptacles and out through the chair.

As previously mentioned, the coverings 20, and 2| are airtight but each of the coverings is provided with apertures or openings 90, see Figl4, in alignment with the receptacles 46 and the receptacles are provided with peripheral perforations 9| to receive stitching 92 for fastening the airtight coverings I1, 20, and 2| to the receptacles. The air within the chair therefore, in order to escape from the chair, must pass through the heating elements' 39 and since the heating elements are adapted to control the flow or air therethrough, the air passing through the chair is controlled and heated properly.

yThere is an opening |00 in the rear of the. chair shown in Fig. l, and there is an air pressureproviding means |0| which may take the form of any suitable fan or the like and is secured in alignment with the opening by mounting 99, and the fan |0I, when energized will serve to create a pressure within the chair. There is a temperature control 'mechanism generally indicated at |02 which includes a settable thermostat |03'. Thermostat |03 is responsive to the temperature of air which is drawn into the chair by the fan |0| and forced through conduit |05 which leads to a thermostat controlled heating element |06 which is secured to the under side of the chair. There is an opening |01 in alignment with heating element |06 to allow the heated air to pass over the thermostat |03. The heating elements 39 are adapted to be energized or deenergized by means of a push button control mechanism ||0 and there is a Wiring system I I I which connects the heating elements 39 to the push button control ||0 and to the thermostat |03 whereby the (Iii ' Vcircuit to be energized thereby. The circuit vI is so connected that the heating element |06 for controlling the thermostat is in series with the thermostat and the thermostat and heating element |06 are connected in series with heating elements 39, said heating elements being connected in parallel with onevanother and each lheating element |06 heating element being adapted to be energized or deenergized through a suitable push button of the push button control I|0, it being obvious that each push button will be connected in one of the parallel circuits containing a heating element' 39. The fan |0| is connected into circuit in a manner such as not to be affected by the operation of the thermostat or heating elements but is controlled by a switch to be described.

All the air drawn into the chair is forced through conduit |05 and through heating element |06 where it is preheated and thereafter lpasses into the chair and out through whichever of the heating elements 39 that have been energized by operating the push button control ||0. By conducting all the incoming air through the and across thermostat |03 the temperature of the air discharged from the chair can be regulated independently of the temperature of the incoming air so that the settable thermostat |03 can always be set at a predetermined position and the temperature of the outgoing air will always correspond to the setting regardless of the temperature of the incoming' air. This is so because the thermostat |03 will open and close in accordance with the temperature of the incoming air, and if the temperature of the incoming air is low the contacts of the thermostat will be closed longer, and if the temperature of the incoming air is relatively high the contacts of the thermostat |03 will be open longer and therefore the contacts of the thermostat are closed for periods of time, the extent of which is in inverse proportion to the temperature of the incoming air.

Another advantage of having the control mechanism |02 being subjected to the incoming air is that the heating element |06 to which the thermostat is responsive operates at a much lower temperature than if the heating element |06 were not subjected to the incoming air. Therefore, two very important advantages are obtained by subjecting the control mechanism, including the thermostat |03 and the heating element |06 to the incoming air. First, the thermostat |03 may be set at a high, low, or medium position, and the temperature of the air discharged from the chair will correspond to the setting regardless of the temperature of the incoming air. Secs" ondly, the operating temperature of the control mechanism |02 will be much lower than the operating temperature of a control mechanism not subjected to the flow of incoming air since the heating element is cooled by the incoming air.

In Fig. 1 it can be seen that there are high, low, and medium indications around the control knob 5 for the thermostat |03 and the occupant of the chair may set the control knob |l5 at a desired position and the temperature of the discharged air will be controlled accordingly.

There is no control plate system for the heating element |06 but the air is allowed to iiow freely through the element |06 at all times. With regard to the control discs for the heating elements it will be noted that the thermostats for only the energized heating elements will be to any extent operative. It is true that the temperature within the chair will increase when any of the heating elements are energized but since the thermostat for any particular heating element is so close to the heating coil therein it is much more responsive to the temperature of the heating coil than are the thermostats or bimetallic strips for the other heating elements. Therefore the bimetallic strips for the unenergized will keep the control plates in substantially closed position.

A footstool, generally indicated at |20, may be used in conjunction with the chair l0 and is provided with main supporting springs |2|, a heating element i122, an airtight covering |23, and auxiliary springs |24 covered by suitable coverings |26 and |27. The footstool |20, therefore includes an airtight hollow body urged into distended position by the coil springs |2| and there is a heating element |22 suspended within and by the central coil spring |2|. Footstool |20 is adapted to have its heating element energized through electrical supply line |30 which is connected to circuit as shown in Fig. 1.

Although the concepts of the present inventionare best embodied in a device in which the hollow body is collapsibfc, it is obvious that the arrangements for controlling the flow of air through the heating elements can be applied to a non-collapsible hollow body.

There may be a suitable heating lamp |40 secured to the back of the chair and curved to direct the rays therefrom the chair.

There is a motor control switch |49 mounted on the back of the chair and this motor control switch enables the fan |0| to be deenergized, although the heating elements are energized, therefore allowing the heating of the chair Without forced draft and. enabling an optional opera- -ion of the chair.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture comprising means providing a collapsible hollow, substantially airtight body urged into distended position by springs, means for creating an air pressure within the body, means movable with the springs for heating the air within the body, the body having vents therein to allow egress of air from the body, and means responsive to temperature change of the air in one direction for closing the vents and in the opposite direction for opening the vents.

2. An article of furniture comprising a collapsible, substantially airtight body urged into distended position by coil springs at least some oi' which have heating elements suspended therewithin to be movable therewith, means for creating an air pressure within the body, there being vents in the body aligned with the heating elements, and means associated with the heating elements and responsive to temperature change for opening and closing the vents to control egress of the air from the body.

3. An article of furniture comprising a collapsible, substantially airtight body urged into distended position by coil springs at least some of which have heating elements suspended there- Within to be movable therewith, means for creating an air pressure within the body, there being vents in the body aligned with the heating elements, means associated with the heating elements and responsive to temperature change for opening and closing the vents to control egress of the air from the body, and means for optionally rendering the last-named means operative or inoperative.

4. An article of furniture comprising a hollow onto the occupant of body, means for drawing air from withoutthe body to within the body for creating an air pressure within the body, means allowing the escape of air from the body at a plurality of places and including an electrically heated element for each place for heating the air, means for selectively energizing the heated elements, and means arranged to have all the incoming air pass therethrough and being responsive to changes in the temperature of the incoming yair for varying the current through the energized heating elements.

5. An article of furniture comprising a hollow body, means for drawing air from without the body to within the body for creating an air pressure within the body, means allowing the escape of air from the body at a plurality of places and including an electrically heated element for each place for heating the air, means for selectively energizing the heated elements, and means arranged to have all the incoming air pass therethrough [and to preheat the incoming air and being responsive to the temperature of the preheated air for varying the current through the .energized elements.

FRANK J. IRVING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,669,683 Temple et al. May 15, 1928 1,817,277 Uhlig Aug. 4, 1931 1,936,960 Bowman Nov. 28, 1933 1,957,401 Wedenmann May 1, 1934 1,989,582 Becker Jan. 29, 1935 2,094,575 Arostegui Oct. 5, 1937 2,185,692 McCleary Jan. 2, 1940 2,259,712 Sweetland Oct. 21, 1941 2,400,790 Tolen May 21, 1946 2,461,432 Mitchell Feb. 8, 1949 2,488,964 Conrad Nov. 22, 1949 2,493,067 Goldsmith Jan. 3, 1950 2,493,303 McCullough Jan. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 65,555 Norway Nov. 30, 1942 312,825 Great Britain June 6, 1929 429,326 France July 13, 1911 782,410 France Mar. 18, 1935 

